Local News

ALBUQUERQUE (AP) — Officials with the New Mexico Veterans Affairs Healthcare System are looking to a fleet of five new vans to ease the transportation challenges of veterans around the state.
The VA unveiled the vans Wednesday in Albuquerque. They’re supplementing an existing transportation network that operates with the help of volunteers with Disabled American Veterans and other organizations.
The new program is run by VA staff. Officials say the VA drivers made 88 trips for veterans in the program’s first full month of operations.

ALBUQUERQUE (AP) — Veterans Day ceremonies are planned around New Mexico, including an hours-long traditional gourd dance to recognize Native American veterans in Albuquerque.
The Indian Pueblo Cultural Center says multiple tribes will participate in Friday’s commemoration. A panel discussion is also planned.
At the University of New Mexico, the name of Sgt. 1st Class Matthew McClintock will be added to the Memorial Wall. McClintock, who attended the university, was posthumously awarded the Silver Star for his actions during a firefight in Afghanistan.
On Thursday afternoon, the unclaimed cremated remains of 22 veterans were laid to rest at a special Forgotten Heroes Funeral at the Santa Fe National Cemetery.

Bandelier Park officials are asking for the public’s help in catching a poacher that killed an elk within the park’s boundaries earlier this week.
Officials found the carcass Tuesday along N.M. 4, west of the Sandoval and Los Alamos County line, between mile markers 45 and 46 on the north side of the road.
From what they found at the scene, officials think the elk was killed between 5:30 p.m. Monday and 7 a.m. Tuesday.
Officials are asking that if drivers or hikers saw any suspicious activity drivers, that they report it to Bandelier Law Enforcement at 672-3861, ext. 401 or 403.
The National Park Service is offering a reward of $3,000 for any information that leads to an arrest and prosecution of those involved in the crime.
Those arrested and convicted of the crime could face up to six months in jail and a maximum $5,000 fine.
Bandelier National Monument Chief Ranger Dennis Milligan said the park experiences at least one poaching every year.

Topper Freshmen Academy Principal J. Carter Payne launched a new initiative at Los Alamos High School called Random Acts of Recognition.
Payne said he found a way to recognize students who had perfect attendance since January of 2016 and also has never been late or tardy to any classes this school year.
Right at the start of class, he surprised all of the students in Whitney Pomeroy’s class with cookies, explaining that they were celebrating the good habits of the student with perfect attendance.
Payne said, “It’s fun to have a chance to walk into a classroom and highlight something great that kids are doing.”
The program will continue with a monthly Random Act of Recognition. Students and parents wanting tips for improving attendance or on time management can call 663-3252.

The citizens of New Mexico House District 43 (Los Alamos, Rio Arriba, Sandoval and Santa Fe) re-elected Stephanie Garcia Richard to her third term on Tuesday.
“All the way up and down the ticket, with my three fellow Democrats getting elected to council, and the good voters of District 43 returning me for a third term, I’m feeling very good, very elated,” Garcia Richard said.
Garcia Richard praised county residents for their commitment to civic responsibility.
“The turnout numbers that we saw in Los Alamos – we just really had a heightened amount of participation and engagement with our voters,” Garcia Richard said. “That’s what we like to see. We like to see people participating in the process.”
When asked about her priorities for the new term, Garcia Richard replied, “My priorities never change. I’ve run on education for three terms now.”
Garcia Richard wants to see early childhood education programs prioritized and more support for teachers, in whatever form that may come.
“Support for teachers can be monetary, for sure, but it could also be administrative,” Garcia Richard said. “Teachers have just been burdened with these unfair, demoralizing evaluation systems. That’s a priority for me to tackle.”

The day after one of the most widely watched and contentious presidential elections in U.S. history, some Los Alamos residents were still on edge.
“I feel pretty depressed, actually,” said one resident who wanted to be anonymous. When asked if he had a candidate, he said. “I’m not sure I had a candidate. It was the lesser of two evils. I think a lot of Los Alamos voted that way. I think mostly Republican Los Alamos voted heavily for Clinton this time. I wish him well, the country has to be led, but I think he’s a loose cannon.”
Other residents thought people just needed to calm down and take a deep breath. Democracy worked, they said, even though the national vote didn’t go necessarily in their favor.
“Trump got elected, and that’s who I voted for,” said Los Alamos resident William Nackers. “If it was the other way around, I wouldn’t be as upset as everyone else is. It’s ridiculous the way people are acting. It’s sort of a continuation of how the candidates were acting, in my opinion, being disrespectful, childish. People should just have to understand they have to lose sometimes. I think it’s going to be good regardless of whoever’s in there.”
Marie Andrew, 91, said she’s just glad it’s over.

Oct. 19
Mario L. Mares was found guilty at the time of traffic stop of speeding six to 10 miles an hour over the speed limit. Defendant was fined $50 and must also pay $65 in court costs.

Francisco Trujillo was found guilty at the time of traffic stop of speeding 16 to 20 miles an hour over the speed limit. Defendant was fined $100 and must also pay $65 in court costs.

Antonio G Rael was found guilty at the time of traffic stop of speeding six to 10 miles an hour over the speed limit. Defendant was fined $50 and must also pay $65 in court costs.

Daniel Edward Judge Sr. was found guilty at the time of traffic stop of speeding one to five miles an hour over the speed limit in a school zone. Defendant was fined $30 and must also pay $65 in court costs.

Michael D. Johnson was found guilty at the time of traffic stop of speeding six to 10 miles an hour over the speed limit. Defendant was fined $50 and must also pay $65 in court costs.

Oct. 20
Mark A. Hoffbauer was found guilty at the time of traffic stop of failing to obey a traffic signal. Defendant was fined $50 and must also pay $65 in court costs.

Police Beat items are compiled from public information contained in Los Alamos Police Department Records. Charges or citations listed in Police Beat do not imply innocence or guilt. The Los Alamos Police Department uses the term “arrest” to define anyone who has been physically arrested, served a court summons, or issued a citation.

3:10 p.m.—William Garrett, 30, of Los Alamos was arrested on a magistrate court bench warrant. The original charge was possession of a controlled substance on March 29 on Trinity Drive.

Oct. 25
8:31 a.m. -- Police reported that a 46-year-old Los Alamos man was the victim of a petty larceny ($500 or less) at Kiva Street.
3:15 p.m. — Kasey Katcher, 20, of Los Alamos was arrested on a magistrate court bench warrant at the Los Alamos Police station. The original charge was possession of drug paraphernalia at the intersection of Meadow Lane and Rover Boulevard on June 11.

The North Central Regional Transit District (NCRTD) has announced that the RTD “Blue Buses,” RTD Chile Line and RTD Mountain Trail Route will not be in service on Friday, November 11, in observance of the Veterans Day holiday.
The NCRTD thanks and honors all veterans for the time they served and the sacrifices they and their families made for our country.